Page 28 - Department of Social Development Annual Report 2021

PART B: PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
3 SERVICE DELIVERY ENVIRONMENT IN 2020/21

The Social Development Sector delivers its services in an account the realities brought by Covid-19 and revised the antenatal period plays in the early development of • The Children’s Amendment Bill that was intro-
environment marked by high levels of poverty, modalities of delivery of services. A number of initially the child from birth onwards. The Policy on Linking duced in Parliament and also presented to the
unemployment and inequality. Like in many other planned initiatives that involved consultations, Children Grants Beneficiaries will integrate social Portfolio Committee on Social Development. The
countries, these persistent challenges of poverty, workshops, training sessions as well as other capacity welfare services, education, and health within the Bill aims to strengthen the current childcare and
inequality and other social ills were compounded by the building initiatives, which required either traveling to cash transfer context, through improved access and protection system, to address court orders and
outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic during the reporting various provinces or face to face engagements could not cooperation, alongside economic support. provide the necessary legislative reform to
period. The subsequent pronouncement of nationwide be implemented under Lockdown levels 4 and 5. The APP • The Green Paper on Comprehensive Social Security respond to challenges affecting children. The
lockdown in March 2020 impacted negatively on the was re-tabled in Parliament, submitted and presented to Reforms makes proposals for the complete overhaul Department also finalised the Draft regulations to
service delivery environment and meant that some of the the meeting of the Portfolio Committee held in July 2020. of the current social security system to create a give effect to this process and to prepare for
Departmental services which would ordinarily be social security system that covers everyone in the effective implementation of the Children’s
delivered physically had to be suspended until Comprehensive Social Security country, ensuring that those who are unable to Amendment Bill. The regulations will provide
alternatives means were in place to ensure compliance to support themselves are provided with social grants, procedures and guidelines that dictate how the
Covid-19 regulations. The Department continued to expand access to social while those in both formal and informal provisions of the Amendment Act will be applied.
security through monthly transfer of funds to the South employment are provided with an institutional • The development and finalization of the Frame-
Institutional arrangements African Social Security Agency (SASSA) for the provision platform to make mandatory and voluntary work for ECD Quality Assurance as well as ECD
of social grants to eligible beneficiaries. contributions to cover themselves and their families Service Delivery Model.The ECD Service Delivery
The Department moved swiftly in developing strategic in the event of their retirement, death or disability. Model and the Quality Assurance and Support
and innovative response measures to protect the lives of DSD continued to oversee the management and System will provide a different perspective in the
the people and to ensure that the gains to improve administration of social grants by SASSA, and remained In addition, the following legislation were processed: implementation of ECD services. This include the
quality of life are not washed away. Among others, the accountable for the R220,6 billion disbursed for the quality of services that need to be taken into
Department suspended visitations, release of clients and payment of social grants. Additional funding was • The regulations for the Social Assistance consideration and the support that will be provid-
family reunification and interaction programmes in most allocated to the Department during the special and Amendment Act, 2010 (Act No.5 of 2010) which ed to service providers to improve the quality of
of its facilities. Other programmes and services had to be normal adjusted estimates for the top-up grant and was assented by the President in December 2020, services in their programmes.
delivered telephonically, online or through virtual special Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant of were published for public comments and updated • Development of the Guidelines and Standard
platforms to mitigate the spread of Covid-19. These R350. This required close collaboration between the based on the comments received. When Operating Procedures to guide ECD services in
disruptions required and resulted in a significant shift in Department and SASSA in analysing expenditure trends implemented, these regulations will provide for complying with the COVID -19 regulations. The
the organisational and service delivery environment. and financial compliance to ensure that appropriated improved administrative processes within SASSA Guidelines were used as part of facilitating the
funds are spent in line with the Department’s mandate. to improve the quality of service to grant re-opening of the ECD programmes. This also led
In order to enable service continuity during lockdown, the beneficiaries and allow appellants direct access to to the infrastructure component of the ECD
Department established a National Inter-Departmental The Department continued to formulate policies and the Independent Tribunal for Social Assistance conditional grant being re-purposed to support
Covid-19 Social Development Response Team (named legislative proposals for contributory income support Appeals. ECD services with Personal Protective Equipment
Situation Room) to co-ordinate and enhance the Social aimed at protecting household against life cycle risks • The President also signed the proclamation of (PPEs) for them to comply and be able to re-open.
Development Sector‘s response to the Covid-19 such as unemployment, ill health, retirement, and Chapter 4 of the amended Social Assistance Act, • The Department reviewed the White Paper on
pandemic and to promote the wellbeing of the citizens, disability and the death of a breadwinner. thereby facilitating the establishment of the Families. The paper will contribute to
the protection of staff in the sector and to coordinate any Inspectorate for Social Assistance. The strengthening of families in South Africa with a
other related matters. A number of technical work These policy reforms are intended to create a social Inspectorate is charged with promoting the focus on addressing the behaviours and attitudes
streams which included the Workplace and Employee security system that covers everyone in the country, integrity of the social assistance frameworks, by of men towards their female counterparts.
Wellness, Business Continuity (Service Delivery), Social ensuring that those who are unable to support ensuring that SASSA adheres to all the policies • The development of the White Paper for Social
Grants Payment, Finance and Procurement, Monitoring, themselves are provided with social grants, while those and legislation related to the provision of social Development. The paper will culminate into the
Evaluation and Learning (MERL), Communications, Social in both formal and informal employment are provided grants. The Department will work with the development of a Social Development Act, which
Security as well as Provincial Coordination were with an institutional platform to make mandatory and Department of Public Service and Administration is envisaged to reposition the Social Development
established to provide technical support the Situation voluntary contributions to cover themselves and their to facilitate the operationalisation of the Sector towards achieving the developmental
Room. families against these life cycle risks. Inspectorate. agenda. In preparation for the effective
• The Fund Raising Amendment Bill was tabled in implementation of the White Paper, the
The Situation Room developed and reviewed the Sector’s In pursuit of this, the Department developed the following Parliament. The amendments are intended to Department developed a draft implementation
COVID -19 response action and risk plan and coordinated policies: address the fragmentation and inefficiency that plan. The Plan provides for the implementation of
the collaboration of the DSD sector responses to the currently exists in the process of responding to the White Paper by departments of social
pandemic. The technical teams assisted in identifying • A draft policy proposal for the Basic Income Grant. disasters in the country. The current legislation development in all spheres of government, other
gaps and assessing the effectiveness of the country’s The policy proposal focusses primarily on the provides for multiple funds to address very government departments with responsibility for
measures against the pandemic as it relates to the DSD provision of income support to unemployed working narrow categories of disasters. The objective of the delivery of social welfare services,
sector and compiled regular reports to various structures age individuals between 18 and 59 years, who the Bill is to consolidate all relief funds into a non-governmental organisations and
such as NATJOINTS and Parliament on the DSD sector currently do not have access to social assistance. single fund with a single Board to enhance community-based organisations.
response to the pandemic. This enabled service • Two inter-related policy reports, one on Maternal responsiveness and efficiency. • The Department finalised the Older Persons
continuity during various nationwide lockdown levels Benefits and the other on Policy Options for the Amendment Bill, 2020. The Bill is aimed at tight-
and mitigated the impact of the pandemic on service Linking of Child Support Grant Beneficiaries to other Welfare Services ening the gaps in the Older Persons Act, 2006 (Act
delivery. government services were costed. The Maternal No. 13 of 2006) to ensure protection of older
Benefits Policy work is motivated by a recognition The Department continued to strengthen social welfare persons. The Bill was approved to be presented to
Furthermore, the Department, as guided by DPME, had to of the importance of the first 1000 days in a child’s service delivery through legislative and policy reforms. Cabinet for approval to be introduced to Parlia-
revise its Annual Performance Plan (APP) to take into life, and the role that poverty and deprivation in the These reforms include among others,

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ANNUAL REPORT 2020/21 28

ment. registered, these were made up of 799 national Gender-Based Violence Command Centre. In way that enables them to participate in socio-economic
• The development and finalisation of the Policy on adoptions and 50 intercountry adoptions. addition to responding to cases of GBV, the opportunities within communities.
the Prevention of and Treatment for Substance Furthermore, a total of 166 adoption service Command Centre provided psychosocial support and The National Community Development Policy was also
Use Disorders. The Policy will address the impact providers were accredited, this number includes 128 trauma counselling to those impacted by Covid-19 finalised. The Policy aims to provide leadership and
of alcohol and substance abuse to families, Child Protection Organisations and 38 Social pandemic. The centre was also relocated to new and guidance on the implementation of community
Workers in private practice.
communities and society. The development of the • The Department conducted capacity building spacious premises, allowing for more Social Workers development in the country (including by other
Policy form part of the process to review the workshops on psychosocial support services in per shift and to comply with the regulations relating government departments). The policy also intends to give
Prevention of and Treatment for Substance Abuse Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga provinces to the current pandemic of Covid-19. This enabled guidance on the coordination and integration of
Act, 2008 (Act No. 70 of 2008). The Act focuses on in partnership with Pact SA, reaching a total of 204 the Department to reach out to more beneficiaries. community development interventions at community
scaling up prevention, treatment and Social Service Practitioners. The Guidelines ensure level by multiple role-players involved in community
rehabilitation strategies to address the scourge of early identification of Orphans, Vulnerable Children Community Development development. The Department also finalised the
alcohol and drug abuse in the country. and Youth (OVCY) at higher risk of contracting HIV. Community Mobilisation and Empowerment Framework.
• The Department is finalising the Victim Support The provision of psychosocial support services is DSD continued with the implementation of food and The Framework focuses on the community mobilisation
Services (VSS) Bill and the Policy. The Bill seeks to provided with an emphasis on disclosure and nutrition security programme, contributing to the goal of processes to be followed when conducting community
address the gaps identified in all the existing adherence. Furthermore, the Guidelines advocate for improving access to diverse and affordable food. The dialogues, household and community profiling. The
victim empowerment legislation including the routine HIV risk assessment and referral to Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated the plight of the poor development of the framework is part of government
challenges in the provision of sheltering services. appropriate health-testing services and promotes and vulnerable against hunger and poverty. The effort of building an active citizenry.
the national Cheka Impilo Wellness Campaign. The
The draft VSS Bill was published in the campaign encourages citizen to know their HIV Department worked hard to transform the provision of
Government Gazette for public comments. status in order to access treatment. The intervention food and nutrition security services from a normal chronic The Department registers and monitors Non-Profit
• Finalisation of the Social Service Practitioners of trained SSPs also contributes to the UNAIDS food insecurity environment to a more responsive food Organisation in terms of the Non-Profit Organisation Act,
Draft Bill. The draft Bill was approved by Cabinet 95-95-95 strategy, which encourages 95% of people emergency system that deals with transitory hunger 1997 (Act No 71 of 1997). There was an increase in
in the 2019/20 financial year, and subsequently with HIV to test, of those tested, 95% to be on posed by the lockdown and the loss of livelihoods in demand for NPO registration during the reporting period.
gazetted for public comments. The public treatment, and 95% of those on treatment to be many households. Food emergency response was In this regard, a total of 22 685 applications for NPO
comments were used to redraft the Bill and it was virally suppressed. provided in the form of food parcels, take home rations as registration were received, 13 621 were processed and 12
subsequently submitted to the Office of the Chief • The Minister launched the National Drug Master Plan well as food vouchers. A total of 10 006 423 people 551 (55%) of those were processed within two months.
State Law Advisor (OCSLA). The Bill will be (2019-2024) as per of the commemoration of the accessed food through DSD support. About R66 million The Department is mandated with the responsibility of
submitted to Cabinet in the new financial year. International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit worth of food donations were distributed through the ensuring that NPO reports are processed and verified in
• The Development and finalisation of a Trafficking. A total of seven provincial Substance provinces during the reporting period. This was made line with the requirements of Sections 17 and 18 of the
Abuse Forums in Eastern Cape (EC), Free State (FS),
comprehensive Covid-19 Child Care and Gauteng (GP), KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), Mpumalanga possible by organisations such as the Church of Jesus NPO Act. The submission of reports by NPOs promotes
Protection Sector Response Plan through the (MP), North West (NW), and Western Cape (WC) were Christ of the Latter Days Saints, The Solidarity Fund, Old accountability, good governance and improves public
National Child Care and Protection Forum capacitated on the National Drug Master Plan 2019 Mutual, The Spar Group, Khula Milling, South African confidence in NPOs. In this regard, a total of 29 780 NPO
(NCCPF) in response to the outbreak of Covid-19. – 2024. Sugar Association and many other individuals and reports were received, with 18 805 processed and 17 950
The Plan will guide service provision throught the • The Department implemented the Universal organisation who donated food and food vouchers to (60.3%) of the received reports processed within two
Covid-19 national state of disaster period. Treatment Curriculum (UTC) in three public support humanity during this time. months.
treatment centers namely, Nkangala Treatment
Centre in Mpumalanga, Northern Cape Substance The Department continue to lead the coordination of the Governance and Institutional Development
The Department further implemented several Dependency Treatment in Northern Cape (NC) and EPWP for the Social Sector, which comprises of the
interventions to strengthen delivery of welfare services. Newlands Park Treatment Centre in KwaZulu-Natal. departments of Health, Education, Social Development,
Among these were the following: The UTC aims to increase skills, knowledge and Maintaining sound organisational and business practice
capacity of cadres working in the field of substance Community Safety, and Sports and Recreation in South is an integral part of promoting accountability and
• The Department launched the Vangasali Campaign abuse; particularly treatment, care and support. The Africa. These departments contributed to the Expanded efficiency in the Department. As a result, the Department
aimed at “Finding every ECD”. This Campaign implementation of UTC programme has Public Works programme (EPWP) by providing temporary continues to implement a number of initiatives towards
contributes towards the NDP target of providing strengthened the provision of evidence-based work opportunities to the marginalised and poor sectors maintaining the highest standards of governance in the
universal access to ECD services as it promotes the treatment modalities and application of treatment of the community. The Social Sector created 179 204 management of public finances and resources. Some of
registration of ECD centers and ensuring that tools for Substance Use Disorders (SUD) in relation work opportunities which translates to 103% these initiatives are discussed below.
children in these centers are supported and provided to treatment, care, rehabilitation, recovery and achievement against its set target of 174 204. Of these
with quality programmes. Through this campaign, a support. work opportunities, 39 437 were created through DSD Audits: Audits were conducted in accordance with the
total 52 000 ECD services were registered on the • The Department monitored the implementation of programmes. The sector is still experiencing a challenge standards and requirements of the Institute of Internal
Vangasali databases. the DSD Anti-Gangsterism Strategy in six provinces in achieving both youth and persons with disabilities Auditors and the Department’s Audit Charter. The reports
• The Department conducted capacity building on the namely Eastern Cape, Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal, targets. This is an area that requires close monitoring of
Adoption Policy Framework and Strategy, Guidelines Western Cape, Gauteng and Mpumalanga. the recruitment and selection of participants by detailing the audit findings and action plans to respond
and Training manual and the Register of Adoptable Monitoring reports on the implementation of the to such findings were submitted to the Audit Committee
Children and Prospective Adoptive Parents (RACAP). Strategy in Secure Care Facilities were submitted by participating programmes in the sector. and the Department’s top management, who took the
In this regard, a total of 432 Social Workers in eight the provinces. The key areas monitored included all necessary corrective action to address identified
provinces, except Mpumalanga were capacitated on Facilities that are to put in place systems and The DSD Youth Development Policy was finalised and deficiencies. Progress on the Audit Action Plans were also
both the Framework and the Strategy. The trained techniques to prevent gangsterism and uphold the costed. The policy was developed in alignment with the presented to oversight bodies such as the Portfolio
Social Workers were empowered and will be able to welfare and safety of children already in the National Youth Policy developed by the Department of Committee on Social Development in Parliament.
provide adoption services as required by the facilities from those who come with gang influences. Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD). Risk and Ethics Management: The Department has a
Legislation. A total of 849 adoptions were • The Department continued to operate its The DSD Youth Policy focuses on the enhancement of functional Risk and Ethics Management Committee
capabilities and development of aspirations for youth in a

(REMC), which meets on a quarterly basis to review the and ensures a collective focus on service delivery.
progress that the Department is making in addressing its Standard Operating Procedures for all departmental
risks, to provide strategic direction and overall advice to support functions: The Department is also developing
the Accounting Officer on risk management. Quarterly and reviewing all existing Standard Operating Procedures
risk management reports are produced, discussed at the (SOPs) for support services functions to improve service
committee meetings and submitted to all relevant delivery. The SOPs provide details on the requirements
stakeholders. and turn-around timelines for procurement of services as
well as development and submission of compliance
Programme Performance Reporting and Performance reports. Improved compliance will result in improved
Reviews: The management of programme performance performance.
information and generation of quarterly and annual
performance reports on predetermined objectives has Alignment of individual performance agreements to
been institutionalised. These reports are submitted to the institutional plans: The Performance Agreements of all
Executive Authority, the National Treasury, DPME and the Senior Managers are being intrinsically linked to the
Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) as well as specific targets in the Annual Performance Plan and
presented to Portfolio Committee on Social Development operational plans of the Department. This alignment will
on a regular basis. The Department has also improve the management of performance at institutional
institutionalized Programme Performance Reviews at and individual level in line with the directive issued by
branch and departmental level. The performance reviews the Minister of Public Service and Administration on the
provide early warning system and identify barriers Performance Management and Developments System for
towards the achievement of set targets. The reviews the members of Senior Management Services (SMS),
allow managers to identify and implement measures to which came in to effect from 1 April 2018.
ensure that the Department achieves all set targets.
Directive on implementation of preventative controls:
Planning: The Department has improved on its planning The Department issued a directive to all its Senior
processes. Among others, the start of the annual planning Managers to implement Preventative Control Guides
has been shifted back by two months to ensure (PCG). These are guides developed by the Auditor-General
development of quality plans takes place ahead of time. of South Africa advising management on how to enhance
During development of its plans, particularly the APP, the the current financial management systems to utilise
indicators and targets are subjected to SMART (Specific, public resources effectively, efficiently and economically,
Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Time bound) principles and consequently receive positive audit outcome. These
to ensure that all commitments in the APP are achievable. PCG cover issues related to Control Environment, Risk
Risks as well as mitigation strategies are identified for all Assessment, Control Activities, Information and
measurable outputs to ensure that if such risks arise, the Communication, and Monitoring components, which are
impact on the delivery of services is minimal. Through its applicable in promoting a sound financial management
planning processes, the Department identified a need to system as well as non-financial management controls as
develop the Support Services APP (SSAPP). The SSAPP well as the efficient utilisation of resources.
elaborates how support services functions within the
Department enables and enhances the internal
operational environment for improved efficiencies. The
SSAPP brings core and support services closer together